UAE golden visa for students a big step, says local paper

«Initially offered to investors, the golden visa is now available to students scoring 95 percent or above or a GPA of 3.75. Their immediate families are also eligible for the ten-year residency,» Gulf News said in an editorial on Wednesday, WAM reports.

The paper added that since the formation of the country in 1972, the UAE has been a preferred choice of residency for entrepreneurs, traders and talented professionals in almost every field. For decades, the country has provided enabling environment for foreign workers to flourish and pursue their careers.

The youngsters who opted to settle down in the country in recent decades raised their children who studied in public and private schools in the UAE.

It continued, «Generations of expatriates have benefited from growth opportunities, world-class education and health care facilities and a wholesome experience with a great lifestyle in this country where foreigners enjoy religious and cultural freedom and get protection from anti-discrimination law.

»It is logical, therefore, the UAE offers long-term residency to their children who are leaving schools with flying colours. This will further boost the UAE’s ability to retain talent and attract talented youngsters who are likely to follow the footsteps of their parents while planning their future and building careers in this country.«

The long-term residency, the daily said, is part of the country’s vision to attract exceptionally talented people in the fields of artificial intelligence, big data, epidemiology and others.

The paper then quoted His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who said, «This is the first push in a series of such moves. We want to retain the talents and brains in the country so they can continue on this journey of innovation and development with us,« in November 2020 when the visa was first announced.

In the Year of Fiftieth, this visa programme is an attempt to make bright youngsters permanent partners in the progress of the nation and a big step to build a pool of exceptionally talented foreign workers for the next fifty years.

The Dubai-based daily concluded by saying, «Also, for these youngsters, the golden visa is a reversal of the residency process where students will now sponsor their family members. This will allow families to stay together in the UAE where working expat parents cannot keep adult children on their sponsorship.«